Teachers, finance ministry officials head to labour ministry

Representatives of the Jamaica Teacher’s Association (JTA) and officials of the finance ministry head back to the labour ministry today.



They are to meet at 10 a.m. this morning to discuss the latest payment schedule, which has been rejected by the teachers.



The JTA president, Michael Stewart says he’s hoping the matter can be settled so that teachers can concentrate on their core duties.



The finance minister Audley Shaw is asking that teachers and other public sector workers be reasonable in their demands.



The island’s public school teachers are owed a total of $8 billion in retroactive payments.



The government has offered to pay the teachers over three financial years.



Four billion dollars would be paid between May and July next year.



The second payment of $2.5 billion would be paid in the first quarter of 2011 and the final tranche of $1.5 billion in April 2012.



However, the JTA has objected to this schedule saying it would prefer to have the payments completed by 2011.



According to the JTA, a further delay in the payments would mean less money in real terms when inflation is considered.